Improve Your Home Search by Planning Ahead

By Kendra Wright, Branch Vice President of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Arlington Regional Office

From finding a real estate agent to searching for the right property, and obtaining a mortgage to closing on your new home, the process of buying a house can be quite time consuming. Luckily, by approaching it the right way from the start, you can save a great deal of time and effort while increasing your chances of securing your dream home.

Perhaps the most difficult part of the home search is finding what you want. Avoid confusion by making a list of the most important home characteristics ahead of time. For example, buyers likely have a desired number of bedrooms in mind, or a preferred school district or home style.

It may also be useful to make a secondary list of characteristics that you’d prefer but can do without.

When evaluating for-sale homes, don’t put too much emphasis on easily altered cosmetic details like the color of the walls. Repainting is one of the cheapest and easiest changes to make to a home. Instead, focus on aspects that can’t be altered without extensive and costly work, such as the floor plan.

Getting pre-approved for a loan can improve the home search process by establishing a price range, making it easier to find homes that suit your budget.

Real estate agents are an extremely helpful resource during the process. For assistance with buying or selling a home in the Arlington area, contact the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Arlington Regional office at 703.524.2100 or visit CBmove.com.